Translated from the files of FaaSamoa. A 57 year old woman was handed a 10 month jail sentence for discharging a weapon and injuring a young man in his backside.
The incident occured in October 2019, when a dispute arose and taulelea (untitled young men of the village) placed stones in front of Leuluaialii Selesitina Vaaulu’s house, blocking the driveway to her home.
This led to a heated exchange between the taulelea and Mrs Vaaulu’s husband, which intensified her husband struck one of the young men with a pipe.
According to police reports, this aggravated the taulelea who then turned on Mrs Vaaulu’s husband.
Fearing for her husbands safety, Selesitina went into the house and came out with a 22 gauge firearm.
She fired warning shots with the intention of driving the men away. However, a stray bullet hit one of the taulelea in his buttocks and he was rushed to the hospital.
In delivering his sentence Justice Leaiataualesa Daryl Clarke said possession of a firearm and firing it is not considered lightly and the penalty must reflect the seriousness of the offense.
The gun was also found to have been and unlicensed illegal weapon.
Mrs Vaaulu was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a dangerous weapon and the possession of an illegal weapon.
The Court set the starting point at two years and after deductions for her guilty plea and remorsefulness, Mrs Vaaulu was handed 10 months to serve at Tanumalala.
